Handheld devices

The pocket-size lactate monitor

Made by EKF Diagnostics, the Lactate Scout 4 hand-held analyser is a fast, accurate sports performance monitoring device designed for use as a training companion for individuals or sports teams.

This year at Medica the manufacturer is showing the new analyser plus many POC testing devices, including the recently FDA cleared DiaSpect Tm haemoglobin analyser and Quo-Lab® HbA1c analyser that was successfully evaluated in a study by the European Reference Laboratory for Glycohemoglobin and published in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology.

Measuring lactate helps to define workout intensities for maximum fat catabolism, increases in endurance, and to avoid critical over-exhaustion. ‘Its use will help rapidly to determine optimum training programs, define training zones, and avoid inefficient training regimes, EKF reports, adding that the product is ideal for field training due to being pocket-size, and weighing just 60g, with a simple push-button navigation and e-paper screen that can be read easily in any light conditions.

The Lactate Scout 4 can undertake 1,000 tests using just two CR2450 lithium batteries

EKF

The device is quick to use, requiring no calibration – and a result comes in 10 seconds with only a 0.2 µl capillary blood sample.

There is also Bluetooth connectivity to all major brands of heart rate monitor. Heart rate data can be collected and collated using the step test function to provide in-depth analysis of performance. Up to 500 lactate results can also be stored, all of which are compensated for the influence of low and high haematocrit levels. And, the firm reports, ‘The Lactate Scout 4 can undertake 1,000 tests using just two CR2450 lithium batteries.’

Visitors to EKF’s stand will also see other hand-held devices, including the DiaSpect Tm haemoglobin analyser for rapid anaemia screening. This has received U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance and CLIA waiver for use in POC settings, such as doctors’ offices, clinics and other non-traditional laboratory locations. Haemoglobin measurements (precision: CV ≤1%) come within two seconds from a whole-blood sample.

POC analysers and reagents for diabetes care include the Quo-Lab and Quo-Test glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) analysers designed to deliver four-minute results. Both analysers have been demonstrated to deliver lab-accurate HbA1c results from finger prick or venous whole blood in recent evaluation studies undertaken by the European Reference Laboratory for Glycohemoglobin.